But if we’re being honest, it’s also starting to feel a little predictable. Personally, I’m hoping someone like Holger Rune or Jack Draper really crashes the party next season and shakes things up.
With that in mind, I decided to rank my top five ATP victories of the season without featuring Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner. no easy task, considering the pair shared all four Grand Slams and the ATP Finals.
Still, there were plenty of other standout moments. And now feels like the perfect time to give them their flowers.
5. João Fonseca breaks through in Buenos Aires
Brazilian wunderkind João Fonseca looks like a future superstar in the making, armed with the kind of raw power that could one day trouble even Alcaraz and Sinner.
He announced himself in style in Buenos Aires, claiming his maiden ATP Tour title and becoming the youngest South American champion of the ATP Tour era (since 1990).
Boasting what might be the most vicious forehand I’ve ever seen on a teenager, Fonseca bulldozed his way through the draw, even winning over typically partisan Argentine crowds. While he would end the season on an even higher note by lifting his first ATP 500 title at the Swiss Indoors, it was Buenos Aires that truly captured the imagination.
4. Novak Djokovic reaches 100 titles in Geneva
It wasn’t exactly a vintage season for Novak Djokovic.
His once iron grip on the men’s game was loosened by the rise of Alcaraz and Sinner, who have boldly ushered the sport into a new era. But even in a relatively quiet year, the Serbian legend still found time to make history.
Djokovic claimed his 100th career title at the Geneva Open, arriving with a modest 12–7 record and fresh off a split with coach Andy Murray. On the clay, though, class told. He battled back from a set down to defeat Hubert Hurkacz in the final.
He’d later add a 101st title by winning the inaugural Hellenic Championship, leaving only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) ahead of him on the all-time list.
3. Jack Draper announces himself at Indian Wells
Jack Draper officially joined the elite last year with a US Open semifinal run, hinting strongly at future Grand Slam contention.
While injuries disrupted much of his 2025 season, the British left-hander still produced some magical moments. None bigger than his breakthrough Masters title at Indian Wells, where he defeated Holger Rune in the final to claim the biggest win of his career.
He later underlined his versatility by reaching another Masters final in Madrid. Fitness remains the big question mark, but if Draper can stay healthy, he might just be one of the most credible threats to Sinneraz dominance.
2. Gaël Monfils makes history in Auckland
There are those who argue that Gaël Monfils underachieved over the course of his career. I strongly disagree.
Like many supremely talented players, Monfils had the misfortune of peaking during the era of the Big Three or Big Four if you include Andy Murray; Big Five if you’re feeling generous with Stan Wawrinka.
Let’s focus on what he has done. The Frenchman has reached 35 ATP finals and lifted 13 titles, an outstanding career by any measure.
At the start of the season, he rolled back the years in Auckland, becoming the oldest winner in the ATP Tour era. In fact, it made him the oldest men’s singles champion since 43-year-old Ken Rosewall won in Hong Kong back in 1977.
We’re going to miss his charisma, athleticism and sheer joy for the game when he retires at the end of the 2026 season.
1. Valentin Vacherot delivers a miracle in Shanghai
Who says tennis has lost its romance?
Valentin Vacherot’s Shanghai triumph is one of the most astonishing stories in ATP Tour history. Ranked No. 204 heading into the tournament, he became the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion ever – and he had to come through qualifying to do it.
The fairy tale didn’t stop there. Vacherot also became the first player from Monaco to win a Masters title, sealing the moment in dramatic fashion by defeating his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in a gripping three-set final.
Proof, if it was ever needed, that miracles are still possible in tennis.